David Krutko

Deputy Minister Cooper.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses.

When we left off, we were on page 7-35, Community Justice and Corrections. Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Chair, the information that’s been distributed from the Minister…. I notice the money is distributed based on per capita. We’re always pounding on Ottawa’s door and saying that per capita doesn’t work for us in the Northwest Territories and we have to change that system. I’m wondering: have you ever looked at base-plus funding for these programs? Everybody realizes that any program, no matter what it is, always has up-front costs — administration costs, overhead costs — that we have to look at. In this case I’d just like to know: has it ever been looked at to have some sort of base-plus...

Ms. Schofield.

Sergeant-at-Arms, would you escort the witnesses in?

If we can, maybe we can just take a short break until the witnesses get here. Thank you.

The Committee of the Whole took a short recess.

Just to be fair to the Members, as some of us are not part of the Social Programs Committee, it would be good if we could get that information. Just have it distributed in the House, and maybe before we conclude your department, give us an opportunity to look at that. Also, maybe if there is any information on the other programs listed on that page, it would be helpful.

Next on the list I have Mr. Ramsay.

At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if he’s bringing in any witnesses. Mr. Lafferty.

I will be supporting the motion. I think, if anything, we can enhance programs by using federal money and our own dollars, and deal with justice issues, and allow the communities the ability to deal with systemic problems in our communities, from youth and justice, to issues in regard to apprehensions and around the whole community decision-making process, to allow communities to be in the decision-making process of Justice — not to leave it up to the courts, but trying to find solutions in our communities to deal with the criminal matters that we see systemic in our communities.

We’re seeing...

The Minister of Justice.